homology

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noun

specifically, such relationship in the context of the geometry of perspective.

“Because of their connection with both homology and cohomology, chain complexes are an important topic of study in homological algebra.”

Opposite
Less commonScrabble 17

Meanings

nounhomology (countable and uncountable, plural homologies)

plural homologies

  1. The relationship of being homologous; a homologous relationship.
    1. countableuncountableprojective geometrygeometryspecifically, such relationship in the context of the geometry of perspective.
      2 more examples

      1863, George Salmon, A Treatise on Conic Sections, Longman, Brown, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 4th Edition, page 61, Two triangles are said to be homologous, when the intersections of the corresponding sides lie on the same right line called the axis of homology: prove that the lines joining the corresponding vertices meet in a point [called the centre of homology].

      1885, Charles Leudesdorf (translator), Luigi Cremona, Elements of Projective Geometry, Oxford University Press (Clarendon Press), page 11, Two corresponding straight lines therefore always intersect on a fixed straight line, which we may call s; thus the given figures are in homology, O being the centre, and s the axis, of homology.

    2. countableuncountableprojective geometrygeometryAn automorphism of the projective plane (representing a perspective projection) that leaves all the points of some straight line (the homology axis) fixed and maps all the lines through some single point (the homology centre) onto themselves.

      If the homology centre lies on the homology axis, the homology is said to be singular or parabolic; otherwise, it is called non-singular or hyperbolic.

    3. countableuncountablealgebraic topologyA general way of associating a sequence of algebraic objects, such as abelian groups or modules, to a sequence of topological spaces; also used attributively: see Usage notes below.

      Brieskorn homology spheres are a special case of Siefert fibered homology spheres.

      2002, Nikolai Saveliev, Invariants of Homology 3-Spheres, Springer, page 2
      1 more example

      One encounters a similar situation in homology theory. Beside singular homology, which is a homotopy invariant, and Čech homology, which is a shape invariant, there exists strong homology, which is a strong shape invariant. In the special case of metric compacta, this homology was introduced by N.E. Steenrod in 1940 and is often referred to as the Steenrod homology.

      2000, Sibe Mardešić, Strong Shape and Homology, Springer, page v
    4. countableuncountablealgebraGiven a chain complex {Gₙ} and its associated set of homomorphisms {Hₙ}, the rule which explains how each Hₙ maps Gₙ into the kernel of Gₙ₊₁.

      Because of their connection with both homology and cohomology, chain complexes are an important topic of study in homological algebra.

    5. countableuncountablechemistryThe relationship, between elements, of being in the same group of the periodic table.
    6. countableuncountablechemistryThe relationship, between organic compounds, of being in the same homologous series.
    7. countableuncountablebiologyThe relationship, between characteristics or behaviours, of having a shared evolutionary or developmental origin;
      1 more example

      2000, Julie A. Hawkins, Chapter 2: A survey of primary homology assessment, Robert Scotland, R. Toby Pennington (editors), Homology and Systematics, Taylor & Francis, The Systematics Association, page 22, The objective of this study is to classify approaches to primary homology assessment, and to quantify the extent to which different approaches are found in the literature by examining variation in the ways characters are defined and coded in a data matrix.

      Antonyms: heterology

    8. countableuncountableevolutionary theorybiologyspecifically, a correspondence between structures in separate life forms having a common evolutionary origin, such as that between mammalian flippers and hands.

      Antonyms: heterology

    9. countableuncountablebiologyThe presence of the same series of bases in different but related genes.
    10. countableuncountableanthropologyThe relationship, between temporally separated human beliefs, practices or artefacts, of possessing shared characteristics attributed to genetic or historical links to a common ancestor.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe relationship, between characteristics or behaviours, of having a shared evolutionary or developmental origin;

Opposite

nounspecifically, a correspondence between structures in separate life forms having a common evolutionary origin, such as that between mammalian flippers and hands.

Opposite

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὁμολογία“agreement, assent”
  2. Latinhomologia
  3. Englishhomology

From Latin homologia, from Ancient Greek ὁμολογία (homología, “agreement, assent”); compare French homologie. By surface analysis, homo- + -logy. In topology, first used by French polymath Henri Poincaré, in the sense (close to what is now called a bordism) of a relation between manifolds mapped into a reference manifold: that is, the property of such manifolds that they form the boundary of a higher-dimensional manifold inside the reference manifold. Poincaré's version was eventually replaced by the more general singular homology, which is what mathematicians now mean by homology.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan homologia
  • homologiahomologous relationship
Chinese Mandarin 同调, 同调论
  • 同调 (tóngdiào)algebraic topology: way of associating a sequence of groups to a sequence of topological spaces
  • 同调论 (tóngdiàolùn)algebraic topology: way of associating a sequence of groups to a sequence of topological spaces
  • 同调 (tóngdiào)algebra: rule by which each member of a chain complex maps into the kernel of the next
  • 同调群 (tóngdiàoqún)algebra: rule by which each member of a chain complex maps into the kernel of the next
Finnish samankaltaisuus, homologia
  • samankaltaisuusgeometry: automorphism representing a perspective projection
  • homologiageometry: automorphism representing a perspective projection
  • homologiaalgebraic topology: way of associating a sequence of groups to a sequence of topological spaces
  • homologiaalgebra: rule by which each member of a chain complex maps into the kernel of the next
  • homologiachemistry: relationship of being in the same group of the periodic table
  • homologiaorganic chemistry: relationship of being in the same homologous series
  • homologiagenetics: presence of the same series of bases in related genes
  • samankaltaisuushomologous relationship
  • homologiahomologous relationship
  • homologiabiology, psychology: relationship of having a common evolutionary or developmental origin
French homologie, homologie
  • homologiechemistry: relationship of being in the same group of the periodic table
  • homologieorganic chemistry: relationship of being in the same homologous series
  • homologiegenetics: presence of the same series of bases in related genes
  • homologiehomologous relationship
German Homologie, Homologie
  • Homologiegeometry: automorphism representing a perspective projection
  • Homologiealgebraic topology: way of associating a sequence of groups to a sequence of topological spaces
  • Homologiealgebra: rule by which each member of a chain complex maps into the kernel of the next
  • Homologiechemistry: relationship of being in the same group of the periodic table
  • Homologieorganic chemistry: relationship of being in the same homologous series
  • Homologiegenetics: presence of the same series of bases in related genes
  • Homologieanthropology: relationship of possessing shared characteristics attributed to a common ancestor
  • Homologiehomologous relationship
  • Homologiebiology, psychology: relationship of having a common evolutionary or developmental origin
Irish homalógacht, homalógacht
  • homalógachtgeometry: automorphism representing a perspective projection
  • homalógachtalgebraic topology: way of associating a sequence of groups to a sequence of topological spaces
  • homalógachtalgebra: rule by which each member of a chain complex maps into the kernel of the next
  • homalógachtchemistry: relationship of being in the same group of the periodic table
  • homalógachtorganic chemistry: relationship of being in the same homologous series
  • homalógachtgenetics: presence of the same series of bases in related genes
  • homalógachthomologous relationship
  • homalógachtbiology, psychology: relationship of having a common evolutionary or developmental origin
Italian omologia, omologia
  • omologiachemistry: relationship of being in the same group of the periodic table
  • omologiaorganic chemistry: relationship of being in the same homologous series
  • omologiagenetics: presence of the same series of bases in related genes
  • omologiahomologous relationship
Portuguese homologia, homologia
  • homologiageometry: automorphism representing a perspective projection
  • homologiaalgebraic topology: way of associating a sequence of groups to a sequence of topological spaces
  • homologiaalgebra: rule by which each member of a chain complex maps into the kernel of the next
  • homologiachemistry: relationship of being in the same group of the periodic table
  • homologiaorganic chemistry: relationship of being in the same homologous series
  • homologiagenetics: presence of the same series of bases in related genes
  • homologiahomologous relationship
Romanian omologie, omologie
  • omologiegeometry: automorphism representing a perspective projection
  • omologiehomologous relationship
  • omologiebiology, psychology: relationship of having a common evolutionary or developmental origin
Spanish homología, homología
  • homologíachemistry: relationship of being in the same group of the periodic table
  • homologíaorganic chemistry: relationship of being in the same homologous series
  • homologíagenetics: presence of the same series of bases in related genes

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with homology

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

homology. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/homology

MLA

“homology.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/homology. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “homology,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/homology.

Source: homology on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.